An improved turbine over the old horizontal and vertical axis turbines because of its ability to capture several times the amount of wind. The basic design and process of this new machine can also work in the ocean at capturing ocean currents. Being Omni-directional (not having to turn into the wind) gives it one efficiency over the 3 bladed turbine. Another efficiency all embodiments have is its frictionless exponent. This quality helps save on wear and tear and maintenance cost. Most if not all past turbines have a static presents, being built in one basic wind capturing position. This new turbine is more dynamic because it can hide from wind damage and then open to capture more wind than its predecessors.

Electrical machines as provided herein can include a shaftless rotor with an annular array of permanent magnets; and a stator with an annular ferromagnetic core and a plurality of electromagnetic inductors about the ferromagnetic core. The stator is located adjacent to and substantially co-axial with the shaftless rotor; and a fluid thrust bearing located in an axially planar gap between the stator and the shaftless rotor.

An accelerated and/or redirected flow arrangement, optimally serving as a wildlife and/or debris excluder (WDE), is used in combination with a turbine-like device having an inlet end and an outlet end for fluid flowing therethrough, e.g., a hydro-turbine. The arrangement includes at least a forward part designed to be placed in front of a fluid inlet of a turbine-like device and configured to produce at least one of the following effects on the fluid: (a) imparting a redirection of the fluid; and/or (b) accelerating the flow velocity of the fluid, as it flows through the forward part. Turbine-like devices having both a forward part and a rearward part of flow arrangement are disclosed, as well as a method of enhancing turbine performance.

A method for transferring sediment in a body of water, a discharge element being situated in the body of water, which is connected to a hydroelectric power station by a connecting line in such a way that water may flow through the connecting line, and a device for providing a sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, and the device including a monitor for monitoring the sediment concentration in the provided sediment/water mixture, and a controller connected to the device to control the quantity of the sediment contained in the sediment/water mixture, and the method including: taking sediment; transferring sediment to the device for providing a sediment/water mixture; introducing the sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, the controller activating the device in such a way that the sediment quantity introduced per time interval does not exceed a predefined maximally permissible quantity, the maximally permissible sediment quantity depending on the instantaneous operating mode of the hydroelectric power station.

A method for transferring sediment in a body of water, a discharge element being situated in the body of water, which is connected to a hydroelectric power station by a connecting line in such a way that water may flow through the connecting line, and a device for providing a sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, and the device including a monitor for monitoring the sediment concentration in the provided sediment/water mixture, and a controller connected to the device to control the quantity of the sediment contained in the sediment/water mixture, and the method including: taking sediment; transferring sediment to the device for providing a sediment/water mixture; introducing the sediment/water mixture into the connecting line, the controller activating the device in such a way that the sediment quantity introduced per time interval does not exceed a predefined maximally permissible quantity, the maximally permissible sediment quantity depending on the instantaneous operating mode of the hydroelectric power station.

The present invention relates to a self-powered remote control system for a smart valve, the system comprising: a smart valve for regulating the flow of a fluid in a pipe; a sensing module for sensing the flow rate, pressure, and temperature of the fluid in the pipe; a power generation module for generating power according to the flow of the fluid; a control module for controlling the lifting or lowering of the opening/closing plate of the smart valve according to the flow rate, pressure, or temperature state sensed by the sensing module; and an administrator terminal for transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the control module, wherein the power generation module comprises: a conical fluid guide member provided in a direction in which the fluid is supplied; and a rotating member rotated by the fluid guided through the fluid guide member, whereby the operation of the smart valve can be controlled by manipulating the administrator terminal at a remote location, so as to supply the fluid into the pipe or intercept the supply of the fluid into the pipe.

An accelerated and/or redirected flow arrangement, optimally serving as a wildlife and/or debris excluder (WDE), is used in combination with a turbine-like device having an inlet end and an outlet end for fluid flowing therethrough, e.g., a hydro-turbine. The arrangement includes at least a forward part designed to be placed in front of a fluid inlet of a turbine-like device and configured to produce at least one of the following effects on the fluid: (a) imparting a re-direction of the fluid; and/or (b) accelerating the flow velocity of the fluid, as it flows through the forward part. Turbine-like devices having both a forward part and a rearward part of flow arrangement are disclosed, as well as a method of enhancing turbine performance.

Apparatus (2) for generating electricity from water (4) flowing in a river (6), which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) a stator (B): (ii) a rotor (10) which is rotatable with respect to the stator (8}in order to generate the electricity, and wherein: (iii) the rotor (10} rotates about an axis (12} which extends in a direction transversely across the rotor (10) from a first side (14) to a second side (16) of the r9tor (10); (iv) the rotor (10) comprises a plurality of rotor blades (18) which extend from at least one of the first and second sides (14, 16) of the rotor (10); (v) the rotor blades (18) are such that each rotor blade (18) has an inner end (20) which is adjacent the side of the rotor (10) from which the rotor blade (18) extends, and an outer end (22) remote from the inner end (20); (vi) the inner end (20) of the rotor blade (18) is movably mounted with respect to the rotor (10) such that the rotor blade (18} is movable between a first position (24) and second position (26); (vii) the first position (24) is one in which the rotor blade (18) extends away from the side of the rotor (10) for being engaged by the water (4) such as to cause the rotor (10) to rotate to generate the electricity; (viii) the second position (26) is one in which the rotor blade (18) extends closer to the side of the rotor (10) than when the rotor blade (18) is in the first position (24); (ix) the second position (26) is one in which debris (28) which is in the water (4) flowing in the river (6) and which has become impacted against the rotor blade (18) is able to be freed from the rotor blade (18) by the water (4) flowing in the river (6); and (x) the rotor blade (18) is movable from the first position (24) to the second position (26} to free the rotor blade (18} from the debris (28), and the rotor blade (18) is movable from the second position
(26) to the first position (24} to enable the rotor blade (18) to resume the first position (24) for generating the electricity.

A Pulsed Locomotor (120), for propelling media, fluids and crafts, in fluids and on land, comprising a blade (124) securely connected to a drive shaft (122). Upon reciprocation, the ambient medium is forced towards the trailing edge of the blade (124) thereby causing a reactive locomotion of the apparatus, substantially along the plane of the blade. Apparatus is secured to motor M by fastening through aperture (130). The apparatus can be operated directly by motor M, and indirectly by the reaction momentum imparted to a supporting platform P. Thrust is directed by steering handle (128) about a bearing (126), rotatably coupling to platform P and base C. Lubricant L is supplied to outlets (134) via conduit (136) and inlet (132), to coat the apparatus with a lubricant cavity, for drag reduction. The blade (124) planes along a figure 8 reciprocation path s1e1s2e2s1. Crafts are embodied.

A Pulsed Locomotor (120), for propelling media, fluids and crafts, in fluids and on land, comprising a blade (124) securely connected to a drive shaft (122). Upon reciprocation, the ambient medium is forced towards the trailing edge of the blade (124) thereby causing a reactive locomotion of the apparatus, substantially along the plane of the blade. Apparatus is secured to motor M by fastening through aperture (130). The apparatus can be operated directly by motor M, and indirectly by the reaction momentum imparted to a supporting platform P. Thrust is directed by steering handle (128) about a bearing (126), rotatably coupling to platform P and base C. Lubricant L is supplied to outlets (134) via conduit (136) and inlet (132), to coat the apparatus with a lubricant cavity, for drag reduction. The blade (124) planes along a figure 8 reciprocation path s1e1s2e2s1. Crafts are embodied.